The head of the University of North Dakota’s future conference says the continuing controversy over the school’s Fighting Sioux nickname could overshadow its athletic programs.

Big Sky Conference Commissioner Doug Fullerton says UND could become a “marginalized Division I program” if the issue drags on, and believes the school would “become of less use” to the league if that’s the case.

UND is scheduled to begin play in the Big Sky next season.

The Grand Forks Herald reports (http://bit.ly/rh1757) that Fullerton recently received a letter from a group of nickname supporters from the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe.

Fullerton says the conference has no opinion on use of the name.

State lawmakers are scheduled to meet in November to vote on repealing a law requiring the school to keep the nickname.